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SHINee member plays rocket scientist with OCD in rom-com
For Choi Minho, stepping onto the theater stage was not about hiding behind a character — it was a deliberate choice to reveal himself more fully.
“I wanted to show more of myself without hiding,” said singer-actor Choi, who recently returned to the theater for his second play.
After making his theatrical debut last year in “Waiting for Waiting for Godot,” the SHINee member is back in the spotlight, this time starring in the romantic comedy “Rendezvous.”
Like his first project, “Rendezvous” is a two-person play in a small theater. With no off-stage exits, Choi and his co-star Kim Ha-ri remain in full view for the entire 100 minutes of the drama, creating an intense and intimate atmosphere.
“I thought if I started in a small theater, with nowhere to hide, I would have to show everything properly,” said Choi. “There are things you miss when you’re far from the stage. Here, I have to confront everything and there’s no escape.”
It is quite a stark contrast to the vast stages he is used to performing on as a K-pop boyband member.
“I’ve performed in front of huge crowds. And here, I can hear every reaction from the audience — their breath, their laughter and their movements. It pushes me to be more detailed and precise, and to prepare more meticulously.”
Minho plays Tae-seop, a rocket scientist with obsessive-compulsive disorder. His tightly controlled life is thrown off balance when he meets Ji-hee, the daughter of the owner of his favorite Chinese restaurant. As their bond deepens, the two wounded souls reveal their scars.
Choi described the play as exploring themes of love and family through Tae-seop and Ji-hee’s relationship — how two people who might never have met come to share their pain, try to understand and protect each other, and sometimes fail despite their best efforts.
“The story feels like a fairytale and at the same time, something deeply grounded in reality. Their relationship is sweet but also full of pain and sadness, and that contrast was fascinating to me.”
Portraying a character who lives by strict routines, Choi said he has been trying to adopt Tae-seop’s habits in real life, creating a series of personal rituals: putting on his socks starting with his right foot, placing his bag in the same spot in the rehearsal room, and eating jajangmyeon (a Korean-Chinese black bean noodle dish) at the same Chinese restaurant every Wednesday for more than two months now.
“I’m not a natural planner. I’m more spontaneous,” he said with a laugh. “At first, it began as a lighthearted attempt, but now I really feel like I’m getting closer to Tae-seop.”
While he had long been familiar with acting in front of cameras, the live interaction with theater audiences proved to be an entirely different experience.
“I’ve always wanted to try theater since I first started acting. I loved the ‘live’ energy of the stage, and there’s something uniquely valuable to be learned here.”
His first experience with theater, however, was abruptly cut short when his co-star, veteran actor Lee Soon-jae, had to withdraw due to health reasons, leading Minho to leave the production early as well. Minho said he is now savoring every moment of “Rendezvous.”
“This opportunity came like magic. The entire process has made me incredibly happy. Honestly, as we approach the halfway point of the performances, I already feel sad that it’s coming to an end.”
“Rendezvous” runs through May 11 at Seoul Arts Center.
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